Terry Santiel, a legendary percussionist hailing from South Central Los Angeles, continues to leave an indelible mark on the music industry. As one of the founding members of music group Rose Royce, Terry played an integral work in making their legendary “Car Wash” soundtrack, he has also recorded with artists like Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, and Thelma Houston, and he has toured with Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, The Pointer Sisters, Justin Timberlake, and Timbaland.
With roots on 77th and Figueroa and the San Fernando Valley’s Pacoima, Santiel’s childhood was one of constant movement. Despite the challenges, he found solace in music; particularly through percussion, a passion that was ignited by his paternal uncles.
“My uncle, he ended up playing for Friends of Distinction, then he ended up playing in L.T.D. with Jeffrey Osbourne,” Terry shared in an exclusive interview with Sentinel. As a young boy, Terry was inspired by the musicians in his family but was often told he was too young to join in on playing. That rejection only fueled his desire to practice.
Santiel’s journey into the music world began in earnest with a drum from his grandmother’s house. He would play along to one particular track, The Temptations’ “Cloud Nine,” mastering its rhythms and structure.
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“I was used to my uncle’s just playing any pattern. But this was more structured. That’s how I learned to play a rhythm.”
This early discipline paid off when he was a fresh out of high school and found himself recording with The Temptations, marking his first professional session – and a deeply full circle moment as a percussionist.
However, it was Rose Royce that became the defining moment in his career. Initially performing under the name Total Concept Unlimited, the band responded to a radio advertisement by Edwin Starr calling for a new band. Through this connection, they were introduced to Norman Whitfield, a key figure in Motown who helped the band evolve into Rose Royce.
Their breakthrough came with the “Car Wash” soundtrack, a project that catapulted both the band and Santiel to fame. The soundtrack, an infectious blend of funk, soul, and disco, showcased Santiel’s percussion skills and became a timeless classic. Santiel fondly recalled how life changed overnight after the release of “Car Wash,” describing it as a whirlwind experience.
“We were young cats,” Santiel reminisced, “we really didn’t know anything about the record industry. We were swinging it.” The band quickly found themselves on tour, opening for legendary acts like Bootsy Collins and Parliament Funkadelic where he vividly remembers watching Parliament Funkadelic’s Mothership Connection every night.
“Watching that spaceship land on stage every night was crazy for me,” Santiel said, reflecting on his time as a young boy who found peace in playing music, now surrounded by this spectacle on a massive stage.
While Rose Royce was a defining chapter, Santiel also worked with other legends like Marvin
Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and The Temptations. He fondly recalls a session with Marvin
Gaye, where producer Hal Davis asked him to add something special to some tracks.
“The stuff I did with Marvin was special,” Santiel shared, noting how moments like that helped shape his career. In another session, he gave a young Michael Jackson a quarter for a can of soda.
One of Santiel’s key innovations was his use of electronic drums on the hit “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” by Rose Royce, a bold move that set him apart from other percussionists of the time. This willingness to innovate and embrace technology became a hallmark of his career, something he carries into his current work as a producer.
Today, Santiel enjoys the freedom to work on projects that inspire him. “I get to sit back and do what I want to do when I want to do it,” he said. This includes his collaborations with artists like Ellee Ven, a singer-songwriter with whom he’s produced countless tracks.
“I just do it to help people out [and] inspire them,” Santiel said. This freedom also includes time for his hobbies. When he’s not working on music, Terry can usually be found under one of his classic 1970s-era cars, fixing them up.
With a storied career, Santiel remains grounded, offering advice to young musicians: “Find investments and try to get into unions,” Terry advised. “They really pay off in the end. Just stay out of the hype, save your money, and always plan for the future.”
